The small park at the corner of Park and Mill streets was created in memory of Chad Martin, a village trustee who died five years ago. The four trees there were lit in his honor Saturday night.

Former village Mayor Mickey Desmarais spoke at the ceremony because current Mayor Paul Maroun was out of town. He noted that Martin asked for the people of Tupper Lake to get along when he died and called for the people of Tupper Lake to forgive past grudges and work together.

"We can't get where we want to go with all this excess weight," Desmarais said. Then he quoted the popular Christmas song "White Christmas," saying "May your hearts be light."

Desmarais said he hopes Tupper Lakers can gather together next year at this time and have grown together as a community.

"Let's remember that Tupper Lake is one of the greatest places to live, work and play," Desmarais said.

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He said he misses Martin, whom he was close with.

Martin's mother, Carol Conover, made the same plea.

"Just be kind to one another and take care of one another," Conover said.

She said the Tupper Lake community has been very supportive of her since her son died, and that has made it easier to deal with. She noted that one family, the Cappiellos, who were close friends of her son, "adopted" her because they knew she was going to miss being called "Mom."

Conover also called for the people of Tupper Lake to keep fighting for their town, including for the Adirondack Club and Resort, a large-scale development project that is currently under litigation.

"We've got to stop letting people come in and take what is ours," Conover said.